Cigarette making apparatus



May 7, 1935. w. D. STARRETT 2,000,423

C IGARETTE MAKING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 25, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR.

Wf/YD 4/ 74 e577 BY 55,

///-$ ATTORNEY y 7, 1935. w. D. STARRETT 2,000,423

CIGARETTE:- MAKING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 25, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /4 Z/4 JiZ-/ INVEN TOR.

WEZEZ #:7714005? 7' B Y g HAS A TTORNE Patented May 7, 1 935 .UNiTEDSTATES CIGARETTE MAKING APPARATUS Wendelin D. Starrett, Alameda, Calif"assignor to Charles S. Evans, San Francisco, Calif.

Application'February 25, 1933, Serial No. 658,522

14 Claims.

My invention relates to apparatus for making cigarettes, and moreparticularly to improvements in home-rolling cigarette machines and todevices'for assisting in the hand making of cigarettes.

It is among the objects of my invention to improve the web type ofhome-rolling cigarette machines by providing means for automaticallyhandling the papers during the operation of the machine.

Another object of my invention is to provide a machine of the characterdescribed in which the movement of .a single operating lever operates toroll the tobacco into a cylindricallyshaped charge, remove a cigarettepaper from a supply. thereof, apply a fluid along an edge of the removedpaper, and deposit the moistened paper in the path of movement of therolling charge of tobacco.

A further object of my invention is to provide improved means forseparating a cigarette paper from a stack thereof; which means isapplicable either in conjunction with a machine of the characterdescribed or in connection with the ordinary cigarette paper packetemployed in the hand rollingof cigarettes.

The invention possesses other objects and fea-' tures of advantage, someof which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the followingdescription of my invention. It is to be understood that I do not limitmyself to this disclosure of species of my invention, as I may adoptvariant embodiments thereof within the scope of the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a cigarette making machineembodying the improvements of my invention, showing the operating leverduring its movement toward. the loading position.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the machine,showing the operating lever during the rolling operation.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the machine, showing the operating lever inthe loading position.

Figure 4 is a detail vertical sectional view of the paper carrier, takenin a plane indicated by the line 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 shows a paper separating device embodying the improvements ofmy invention as applied to the cover of an ordinary book of cigarettepapers; and

Figure 6 shows a variant form of separating.

device prior to its applicationto the book.

In terms of broad inclusion, a cigarette machine embodying theimprovements of. my in- .rangement of these elements may be employed.

of the paper prior to its being rolled about the 10 charge of tobacco. VV

The means for handling and moistening the paper are preferably mountedfor movement with the web engaging means so that all may be actuated bya single operating lever. The papers 15'- are preferably inserted in themachine in their usual stacked relation, and the 'means' for. removingor separating a paper from the supply or stack preferably comprises adevice adapted to hold a'paper by adhesive engagement.

The idea of separating a cigarette paper from. a stack thereof byadhesive engagement is also applicable to the ordinary book or packet ofcigarette papers employed in the hand rolling of cigarettes. In thisinstance the adhesive separating device is preferably mounted on theinside of the book cover so that a paper is separated from the stackupon the opening of the cover.

In greater detail, the cigarette machine chosen O for purposes ofillustrating the improvements of my invention comprises a frame 2'providing support fora drum-shaped platen 3. A web 4 overlying theplaten 3 is provided and is suitably secured at each of its ends to theframe 2. A yoke-shaped operating lever B is pivotally mounted on theframe 2 and carries a roller 1 L engageable with the web land adapted toride over the platen 3. The web 4 is provided with sufficient slack toprovide atom for receiving a quantity of tobacco 8 in the loadingposition of the operating lever 6. Note'Figure 3. F As best shown inFigure 2, the'web engaging means or roller 1 functions to shift thetobacco containing fold along the web and across the top of the platen3. This operates to roll the tobacco into a cylindrically-shaped charge9. These 1 elements and their actions are common in the web type ofhome-rolling cigarette machines, and an extended explanation thereof isconsequently unnecessary. ,The, above described arrangement of elementsis typical of the web type machine and is so chosen for illustration.It'is understood however that any other specific ar- In my improvedmachine means are provided for automatically handling the cigarettepapers during the operation of the machine. To this end suitable meansare provided for holding a supply of cigarette papers. Preferably a trayII is mounted on the frame 2 for receiving a stack I2 of the papers. Thecapacity of the tray is preferably sufficient to hold the stack ofpapers ordinarily found in the commercial type of loose leaf packet.

A carrier 53 is pivotally mounted on the base 2 by a pair of yoke-shapedcarrier arms I4. The

carrier is preferably provided with a depending shelf portion I6, andthe mounting of the carrier is such that the shelf portion rests uponthe paper stack I2 in the retracted position of the carrier and upon theWeb 4 in the extended position of the carrier. A position of the carrierjust after it has left its retracted position is shown in Figure 1, andthe location of the carrier in its extended position is shown in Figure2.

Means are provided on the carrier I3 for removing a paper from the stackI2 and depositing it on the web 4 in the path of movement of the rollingtobacco charge 9. For this purpose a thin face plate I1 is clipped onthe carrier I3 and is arranged to extend across the lower side of theshelf portion I 6. As best shown in Figure 4, the face plate I1 isprovided with a plu- 1 rality of indentations 58 into each of which aquantity of adhesive I9, such as gum, is deposited. A gum verysatisfactory for this purpose is that commonly used on surgical adhesivetape.

These deposits provide adhesive areas or surfaces which operate to graspa paper from the stack I2 when the carrier I3 is in the retractedposition and to hold the same on the bottom of the carrier when thelatter is moved to its extended position. As is best shown in Figure 1,the leading edge of the paper adhering to the carrier extends beyond theforward edge of the clip ,II, so'that the leading edge is free to beengaged between the rolling tobacco charge 9 and the web 4.

Means'are provided for timing the movement of the carrier I3 with thatof the web engaging roller I, and this is preferably accomplished bymeans connecting the carrier for movement with the roller so that bothare actuated by the single operating lever 6. For this purpose a drivingarm 2| is slidably arranged between the supporting arms I4 and the frame2 vand is pivotally connected at one end to the actuating lever 6. Thearm 2| is provided with a driving tab 22 engageable with either of thecarrier supporting arms I l.

When the operating lever 6 is moved to shift the roller I into theloading position the driving tab 22 engages the foremost arm I4 andmoves the carrier to its extended position. Conversely, when theoperating lever is moved toward the discharge position the tab 22engages the rear arm I4 and shifts the carrier I3 back into itsretracted position.

The proportion and arrangement of the parts is such that the driving tab22 starts moving the carrier I3 toward its retracted positionimmediately after the leading edge of the paper has been grasped betweenthe rolling tobacco charge 9 and the web 4. The slight hold of theadhesive deposits I9 on the paper is broken at this time and the. paperis left lying on the web to be completely rolled about the charge oftobacco. Preferably a pair of driving arms M are provided, one on eachside of the machine.

Means are preferably provided for pressing the carrier I3 against thestack I2 in the retracted position of the carrier. This is convenientlyaccomplished by providing tabs 23 on the sides of the frame 2 forlimiting the upward movement of the driving arms 2i. The positions ofthe guide tabs 23 are such that the driving tabs 22 of the arms 2| arecaused to bear down on the rear supporting arm I4 during the finalforward movement of the operating lever 6 into the discharge position.This downward pressure of the carrier I3 on the stack I2 insures thatthe gum deposits I 9 will be brought into firm contact with thecigarette paper to be removed.

Means are also provided for applying a fluid along the trailing edge ofthe removed paper prior to its being rolled about the tobacco charge 9.A tray 23 is preferably removably mounted on the rim of the paper trayII so that it is positioned above the stack I2. An absorbent pad 24,such as felt, is arranged in the tray 23 for holding a supply of fluid.A sheet of resilient material is mounted on the carrier i3 and isarranged to extend downwardly and forwardly, as shown in Figures 1 and2, to provide a wiper 25. The lower edge of the wiper is turned upwardlyslightly to provide a flat portion adapted to engage along the trailingedge of the paper being held by the carrier.

When the carrier I3 is in its retracted position the lower edge of thewiper is pressed against the absorbent pad 24, and when the pad issaturated with Water the edge of the wiper becomes wetted. Subsequently,when the carrier picks up a paper and moves it toward the web thetrailing edge of the paper moves into engagement with the wiper. NoteFigures 1 and 2. When a glutinous substance is incorporated in thepaper, or

when a strip of glue is provided along an edge of the same, a watersaturated pad 24 is all that is necessary. Otherwise, a slight amount ofglue may be added to the saturant for properly sealing the cigarettes.

The idea of adhesive means for separating a cigarette paper from a stackthereof may be employed in connection with the ordinary packet or bookof cigarette papers used in the hand rolling of cigarettes. the leaves21 and covers 28 is shown in Figure 5. The paper separating deviceemployed with such a packet comprises a thin apertured face plate 29clipped over the inner face of one of the covers 28. A backing 3I ofadhesive tape, such 5 as court plaster, is bonded to the strip 29 sothatthe adhesive side of the tape is presented at the apertures of thestrip.

When the cover of the packet is closed and secured by the usual elastic32 the adhesive areas of the separating device become attached to theadjacent leaf, and when the cover is opened the leaf is automaticallydrawn away from the others so that it may be readily removed. The deviceas shown in Figure 5 may be transferred to a new packet when the leavesof an old one have been used up. Of course it is understood that thisshowing is merely for purposes of illustration, and that if desired theadhesive material may be incorporated as a part of the cover when thebook is made; or a strip of material, such as paper, having an adhesiveon one side for bonding the strip to the cover and having deposits ofadhesive on the other side may be provided. Such a strip is-shown inFigure 6.

Such a book of papers comprising The metallic strip carrying gumdeposits, shown in Figure 4 in conjunction with the cigarette machine,could be employed equally as well in a cigarette paper book. Likewise anapertured strip having adhesive tape on the back thereof as shown inFigure 5 could be incorporated in the machine.

After continued use over a considerable time, it may be found that theadhesive gum deposits !9 lose their stickiness, so that the paper is notpicked up with certainty. This is caused by an accumulation of dust overthe surface of the gum, usually derived from the paper. The condition isreadily remedied by picking the surface of the gum with the point of aknife blade, or pin so that a fresh surface is presented.

I claim:

1. A cigarette machine comprising a web adapted to receive a quantity oftobacco, means engaging said web for rolling the tobacco into acylindrically-shaped charge, means for holding a supply of cigarettepapers, means for removing a paper from the supply and depositing it onthe web in the path of movement of the rolling charge of tobacco, andmeans for retracting the paper depositing means after the paper iscaught between the rolling charge and said Web.

2. A cigarette machine comprising a web adapted to receive a quantity oftobacco, means engaging said web for rolling the tobacco into acylindrically-shaped charge, means for holding a supply of cigarettepapers, means for removing a paper from the supply and depositing it onthe web in the path of movement of the rolling charge of tobacco, andmeans operating in time with the web engaging means for retracting thepaper depositing means after the paper is caught between the rollingcharge and said web.

3. A cigarette machine comprising a web adapted to receive a quantity oftobacco, means engaging said web for rolling the tobacco into acylindrically-shaped charge, means for holding a supply of cigarettepapers, means for removing a paper from the supply and depositing it onthe web in the path of movement of the rolling charge of tobacco, meansfor applying a fluid along an edge of the removed paper, and means forretracting the paper depositing means after the paper is caught betweenthe rolling charge and said web.

4. A cigarette machine comprising a platen, a web overlying said platenand adapted to receive a quantity of tobacco, a movably mounted rollerengaging said Web and adapted to ride over the platen for rolling thetobacco into a cylindricallyshaped charge, means for holding a supply ofcigarette papers, means for carrying the papers and having a retractedposition for receiving a paper from the supply and an extended positionfor depositing it on the web in the path of movement of the rollingcharge of tobacco, and means timed for movement with the roller forextending the paper carrying meansand for retracting the same after thepaper is caught between the rolling charge and said web.

5. A cigarette machine comprising a platen, a web overlying said platenand adapted to receive a quantity of tobacco, a movably mounted rollerengaging said Web and adapted to ride over the platen for rolling thetobacco into a cylindricallyshaped charge, means for holding a supply ofcigarette papers, means for carrying the papers and having a retractedposition for receiving a paper from the supply and an extended positionfor depositing it on the web in the path of movement of the rollingcharge of tobacco, means for applying a fluid along an edge of theremoved paper, and means timed for movement with the roller forextending the paper carrying means and for retracting the same after thepaper is caught between the rolling charge and said web.

6. A cigarette machine comprising a platen, a Web overlying said platenand adapted to receive a quantity of tobacco, a movably mounted rollerengaging said web and adapted to ride over the platen for rolling thetobacco into a cylindricallyshaped charge, means for holding a supply ofcigarette papers, means mounted for movement with said roller forremoving a paper from the supply and depositing it on the web in thepath of movement of the rolling charge of tobacco, means for holding asupply of fluid, and means mounted for movement with the roller fortra11sfer-ring fluid from the supply to the removed paper and depositingit along an edge thereof.

'7. A cigarette machine comprising a web adapted to receive a quantityof tobacco, means engaging said web for rolling the tobacco into acylindrically-shaped charge, means for holding a stack of cigarettepapers, a carrier movable from a retracted position resting on saidstack to an extended position resting on the web in the path of movementof the rolling charge of tobacco, said carrier having an adhesivesurface for picking up a paper from the stack and depositing it On theweb, and means for pressing the carrier against the stack in itsretracted position.

8. A cigarette machine comprising a web adapted to receive a quantity oftobacco, means engaging said web for rolling the tobacco into acylindrically-shaped charge, means for holding a stack of cigarettepapers, a carrier movable from a retracted position resting on saidstack to an extended position resting on the web in the path of movementof the rolling charge of tobacco, said carrier having an adhesivesurface for picking up a paper from the stack and depositing it on theweb, an absorbent pad, and a wiper on the carrier adapted to contact thepad in the retracted position of the carrier and the edge of the paperheld by the carrier in the extended position of the latter.

9. A cigarette machine comprising a frame, a platen on the frame, a websecured to the frame and overlying the platen, said web being adapted toreceive a quantity of tobacco, a roller movably mounted on the frame andengaging said web and adapted to ride over the platen for rolling thetobacco into a cylindrically-shaped charge, means on the frame forholding a supply of cigarette papers, means on the frame for holding asupply of fluid, means movably mounted on the frame for removing a paperfrom the supply and depositing it on the web in the path of movement ofthe rolling charge of tobacco, and means for transferring fluid from thesupply to the removed paper and depositing it along an edge thereof.

10. A cigarette machine comprising a frame, a platen on the frame, a websecured to the frame and overlying the platen, said web being adapted toreceive a quantity of tobacco, a roller movably mounted on the frame andengaging said web and adapted to ride over the platen for rolling thetobacco into a cylindrically-shaped charge, means on the frame forholding a supply of cigarette papers, means on the frame for holding asupply of fluid, means movably mounted on the frame and connected formovement with the rollill er for removing a paper from the supply anddepositing it on the web in the path of movement of the rolling chargeof tobacco, and means for transferring fluid from the supply to theremoved paper and depositing it along an edge thereof.

11. A cigarette machine comprising a frame, a platen on the frame, a websecured to the frame and overlying the platen, said web being adapted toreceive a quantity of tobacco, a roller movably mounted on the frame andengaging said web and adapted to ride over the platen for rolling thetobacco into a cylindrically-shaped charge, means on the frame forholding a supply of cigarette papers, means on the frame for holding asupply of fluid, means movably mounted on the frame and adhesivelyengageable withsaid papers for removing a paper from the supply anddepositing it on the Web in the path of movement of the rolling chargeof tobacco, and means for transferring fluid from the supply to theremoved paper and depositing it along an edge thereof.

12. A cigarette machine comprising a frame, a platen on the frame, a websecured to th frame and overlying the platen, said web being adapted toreceive a quantity of tobacco, a roller movably mounted on the frame andengaging said web and adapted to ride over the platen for rolling thetobacco into a cylindrically-shaped charge, means on the frame forholding a stack of cigarette papers, means on the frame for holding asupply of fluid, a carrier mounted on the frame and movable from aretracted position resting on said stack to an extended position restingon the web in the path of movement of the rolling charge of tobacco,said carrier having an adhesive surface for picking up a paper from thestack and depositing it on the web, and means for transierring fluidfrom the supply to the paper held by the carrier and applying it: alongthe edge of the paper;

13. A cigarette machine comprising a frame, a. platen on the frame, aweb secured to the frame and overlying the platen, said web beingadapted to receive a quantity of tobacco, a roller movably mounted onthe frame and engaging said web andadapted to ride over the platen forrolling the tobacco into a cylindrically-shaped charge, meansontheframefor holding. a stack of cigarette papers, an absorbent pad on.the frame, a carrier mounted on the frame and movable from a retractedposition resting on said stack to an extended position resting on theweb in the path of movement of the rolling charge of tobacco, saidcarrier having an adhesive surface for picking up a paper from the stackand depositing it on the web, and a wiper on the carrier adapted tocontact the pad in the retracted position of the carrier and the; edgeof the paper held by the carrier in the extended position of the latter.

l l. A cigarette machine comprising a base, a platen on the base, a. webon the base and overlying the platen and adapted to receive a quantityof tobacco, a yoke-shaped operating lever pivotally mounted on the baseand extending into a handle overlying the platen, a roller journaled.

between the arms of said lever and adapted to ride over the platen forrolling, the tobacco into a cylindrically-shaped charge, means on thebase for holding a supply of cigarette papers, a carriage movablymounted on the basefor removing a paper from the supply and depositingit on the web, and means. connecting the carriage for movement with.said lever.

WENDELIN D. STARRETT.

